Electrical receptacle



J 11, 1929- w. H. NICHOLS 1.716.834

ELECTRICAL RECEPTAGLE.

Filed Feb. 12, 1924 fvz/vem/tori Patented dune ll, i929.

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ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE- Application filed February 12, 1924. Serial No. 692,236.

My invention relates toelectrical receptacles and has for its object the production of a gang one-piece electrical receptacle and plate for use in the wall-of a building, in

dining tables and other household furniture, which may be set ilush with the surface of the wall or furniture and is convenient and economical to apply. It is also adapted for use as a portable receptacle to be laid loosely upon the desk or table or other convenient place.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention Fig. l is a plan view without the service plug. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the service plug inserted. Fig. 3 is an e'nd elevation with the attachment plug cap. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the line X-X on Fig. 1.- Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the line YY on Fig. 2.

7 is a box rectangular in cross section, designed tor three gangs or outlets 13, 14 and 15, as illustrated. A convenient size of box for that number of gangs I find to be about five inches ion tacle and plate. I prefer to make the recep-' tacle of insulating material such as bakelite, Wood fibre or hard rubber by moulding it in a press in the usual way of working such materials, although i do not limit my lnvention thereto. It is obvious that it may be made of cast metal it the inserts are suitably insulated therefrom. 9, ,9 are parallel electric conductors terminating at one end of the receptacle with the inserts 10, 10 in the cylindrical recess 11. Contacting with the conductors 9, 9, and secured thereto by welding, soldering or in any suitable manner, are the inserts 10, 10 for the service plug 12, and the inserts 16, in the gangs or outlets 13, 14 and 15. 21 is an attachment plug cap connected by its cord 18 to some electric device for househbld use, such as a fan, cooking utensil or laundr machine. I have designed the particu er three gang receptacle shown in the drawing tor a dinmg or serving table with attachments "for three electric fixtures, such, for instance, a ercolator, a toaster and a grill, to be sirn 'taneously or and anflinch wide. It is -2 clear that the on may be made longer or separately used. The receptacle is complete in itself and may be so inserted in an opennag out for the purpose in the side of the ta le, that the surface of the plate 8 may be ilush with the wood work of the table, making thereby a neat and attractive appearance, and being conveniently located for the use of any or all of the saidiixtures. When used as a portable receptacle for the table or desk it is, of course, unnecessary to provide the flange 8 shown in the drawing. It is obvious that the receptacle may he used for connection with any variety of electric iixtures, and as many as may be desired by providing a receptacle with the requisite number ot outlets. The female service plug 1'2 is designed to make contact with the male inserts 10, 10, and thereby energize the circuit of the receptacle. The/service plug 12 is constructed in a form to protect the user from an electric shock'whieh' might occur by accidentall coming in contact with the terminals it t ey were exposed. The terminals 23 are concealed in theslots 19, 19, of the service plug 12, and are connected with an electric cord provided with a plug adapted to. take the current from'the house fixtures in the usual manner.

20 is one of the attachment plugs provided with 'a cap 21 and a cord 1'8 to connect with any electric device to be operated by the receptacle. The attachment plug 20 is adapted to form contact with any of the I inserts l6, and thereby to take the current from the conductors 9, 9. Each insert is bent to form a spring 22, and thereby to make a sure contact withthe plug 20.

I prefer the particular form of in invention illustrated in the drawing, whic is constructed in the following manner, first by moulding an insulating material, such as balrelite, hardrubber, porcelain or similar substance intoa box 7, rectangular in cross section, having a cylindrical end recess, and a flange extending around the upper edge, constituting a moulded unitary box of insulating material, open at the bottom and rovided. with longitudinal channels in the use for the conductors 9, 9, and vertical openings for the inserts 10, 10 and 16. The conductors 9, 9, with the inserts 10, 10 and 16 are then introduced through the open bottom of the box into the positions respectively rovided for them. The bottom is then ti led and tightly sealed by a suitable insulating material in which the; conductors 9, 9 and their connections are permanently embedded.

The box is also adapted to be closed after the conductors 9, 9 are inserted and con- .v

nected with the inserts 1'0 and 16 by securing a solid flat bottom of insulating material thereto by screws or other fastening means without imbedding the conductors 9, 9 in insulating material. This is an important feature of my invention. It-provides a box or shell that not only may be used for such sized conductors as the manufacturer may select, but the conductors and their connections are readily accessible for alterations or repairs or removable for the purpose of substituting new conductors and other parts'. p

It is evident that my receptacle is also adapted for use in the wall of dwelling house. It may be set into a recess made for it in the wall, the late 8 being left flush with the surface 0 the wall, used to take the current to any desired electric fixture in the room. In such event the current What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: 1

An electrical receptacle consisting of a moulded unitary structure composed of insulating material having a longitudinal recess formed in the base thereof, and a pair of longitudinal channels opening into said recess, a plurality of pairs of outlets through said structure opening into said channels from the top and perpendicular thereto, a pair of conductors loosely contained and supportedin said channels, contacts in said outlets for connecting attachment plugs with said conductors and a closure member of insulating material in said recess.

In; testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of January, 1924.

' WILLIAM H. NICHOLS. 

